Life has been pretty good at the St.Pierre’s lately, almost too good to be true! While walking around Disney’s Magic Kingdom last Wednesday I found myself filled with a tremendous sense of joy and fulfillment. Truly blessed to enjoy weekly visits to Disney World, I often find myself feeling spoiled comparing my family’s semi-luxurious lifestyle to the troubling poverty and misery in third world countries.
I used to justify our weekly outings by telling myself no one was perfect and that going to Disney World was a collective sin we did as a family. Thanks to a friend and faithful servant of the Lord, a sin has been turned into a blessing.
During a conversation with Dyan, a fellow church goer and Christian missionary, she helped me realize God needs His truth spread to all corners of the earth. As missionaries, members of the Christian church travel all over the world preaching the word of God and sharing their testimonies.
I was not sure if I was fulfilling my mission as a witness, until Dyan explained that God was working through Elizabeth, Grace and I in a place where people from all over the world came to us rather than the other way around. Think about it! What better location to preach the word then one of the world’s largest tourist epicenter?
As a curtain of revelation lifted before me I was faced with God’s magnificent splendor. Through Dyan He showed me our weekly visits to Disney were in fact golden opportunities to spread His word as we inevitably witness to all those we come in contact with. Either while waiting in line at the carousel, sitting on a bench near Pooh’s house or even on the monorail, we have been given the responsibility to minister to those who will listen as well as be Christian ambassadors through our actions.
Before speaking with Dyan, I often felt felt guilty that we were able to afford annual passes to Disney. Now I know in my heart God wants us to enjoy this reward which allows us to reach out as local missionaries catering to an extraordinary audience. Filled with joy and driven by obedience, I now feel empowered to take our weekly visit a step further using Elizabeth, Grace and myself as billboards promoting God’s promises through tasteful custom designed shirts and sweaters featuring inspirational messages and scripture.
Much like the parable of the talents, I plan on investing God’s blessings to bear fruit beyond our own understanding by designing our own purpose driven clothes.
“For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.” (Matthew 25:14-30)
This parable illustrates the faithfulness required of God’s servants. Talents were large sums of money (the equivalent of two years wages) and though burying money in the ground was a safe way to keep one’s wealth, it is clearly not an acceptable purpose driven behavior to God.
The message in this parable is critical to one’s salvation. Jesus tells us that those who are faithful servants to God and bear fruit through His blessings will inherit a place in heaven. This parable specifically demonstrates that as Christians, we are to make full use of all that God has given us or be ready to lose it. This includes material possessions as well as spiritual gifts.
Much like a missionary traveling to Asia is allowed to enjoy Asian food, the unique opportunity to walk through the streets of Tokyo or be marveled by the historical potpourri of this great continent, I now feel God has chosen my family to witness at Disney World. I can now fully appreciate the Lord’s blessings and His need for us as local missionaries.
What opportunities do you have in your life? Are you using all that God has blessed you with to minister or witness to those around you? Are you bearing fruit using your God given skills and talent? I invite you to contact us with any question you have about using your your “talents” so that we may provide word inspired guidance that will help you make the most of what you already have.
Did you know there are really three types of Christians; Type 1 are pew riders that lives anonymous Christian lives. These people are in grave danger of being caught sleeping when Jesus returns. Type 2 involves retired Christians, those who served God but have become tired and allowed the world to slow them down. These people may also be caught in a daze and take the chance to be left behind upon the rapture. The third type of Christians are God’s obedient servants. These people glow with God’s light and their faith is obvious. I like to think I’m a type 3 kinda guy…
One of the best compliments I ever heard came from my wife Elizabeth earlier today when she told me “I was thinking about you during the service and realized that everything you do is to serve God. I hope that when God is handing us our crowns, He grafts me into your circle as your helper!”
At the root of everything I do, my wife Elizabeth is more than a faithful servant herself, she defines true marital love. I plan on using hers and Gracie’s beauty to bear fruit at Disney and anxiously await Jesus’ return when I pray He will say “Well done my faithful and obedient servant.”
Let’s pray.
Father God;
We thank you for your blessings in our lives
And for looking after us, our families and friends,
Lord we thank you for allowing us to minister
To all those who will listen.
Father we ask that you fill our hearts with love
Each and every day,
Helping us be more like you
And guiding our footsteps in this life
So that we may enjoy the fruits of our labor in Heaven.
God we pray you will continue to watch over us
And lead us to the way everlasting,
Where you are waiting for us.
Praise Lord, for all that we are, all that we have been given
And above all, thank you Lord father for all that surrounds us!
Praise God,
Amen!
This message was written by Daniel St.Pierre
Email: DanielStPierre@ThriveThroughChrist.com
